Why all the outrage? Really???

By Mark Forsythe The Kansas City Post Years ago my first job at King Radio was a dream come true. I was able to stay in Kansas City and work in the high tech field of avionics. Then the 90's hit and the economy took a downturn. Companies just weren't interested in upgrading their corporate jets and the airlines decided they could make their older avionics last a few more flight hours. Our business began to suffer, and subsequently the layoffs (at that time they were called Reductions In Force "RIFs") began. Salaries were frozen and grim-faced former employees were seen carrying their belongings to the parking lot on a quarterly basis. Those were dark times for all of us. But at least with the salary freeze we could take some small solace in knowing that nobody's lot was improving while others were kicked to the curb. I was one of the fortunate ones who managed to escape the ax. During that time my five-year employment anniversary came around. It was customary to celebrate the milestone with a cake and congratulations from your coworkers. When my boss came around and asked me what kind of cake I would like, I replied "none." I told him I just didn't feel right "celebrating" the fact that I was still employed after having helped carry friends and coworkers belongings to their cars. Not being one to appreciate bucking tradition, he was not happy with me. I'm sure some choice comments were placed in my employment file. He informed me in a threatening manner that I would change my mind. I didn't. Recently much has been made about the mayor and council's "rubber-stamp" vote approving their own pay raise. Some council members have hidden behind the charter claiming their hands were tied because the previous council had voted the raise in place. The mayor... Well the mayor has told us all that he needs the money. Yowzers... I like Lynn Horsely over at the Star and think she does an excellent job covering the City Hall beat. However, I have to take issue with her recent Prime Buzz post titled "Why all the outrage now over council pay?" Lynn argues correctly that the city charter prohibits any sitting council from either raising or lowering their salary. This is true. You can read it for yourself. Article II, Division 1, Section 205. Sec. 205. Salary. (a) Establishment of salary. The salary of the Mayor and members of the Council shall be established by the Council, and may not be reduced or increased during any term. The salary for all members of the Council, except the Mayor, whether elected by district or at-large shall be identical. The Council may provide an additional amount to the Mayor pro tem reflecting the additional duties and responsibilities assumed by that member. What the charter doesn't say is the mayor and council can't vote to leave their salaries unchanged. I've read through this section several times. It's not there. There is nothing in the charter that prevents a council from self-imposing a salary freeze. I find it ironic that a legislative group can expend so much time and energy combing through the charter to justify their decision about extending a new contract to the City Manager but can't spend five minutes to read one sentence about salaries. At a time when many city workers will be forced out the door to find work in a tough job market, it's more important than ever to show leadership. Leadership is not firing people while giving yourself a raise. Leadership is also not hiding in a back room while the rest of your council colleagues face the tough decisions in the light of day. Councilperson Beth Gottstein may feel she is being magnanimous by offering to give back her raise to the general fund, but running (literally) from the council chambers rather than making a tough vote is not leadership. Leaders make good decisions. Leaders make bad decisions. But leaders don't shrink from the mantle of making any decision at all. What good is a legislator who only votes when it's easy? The mayor and council have missed the mark on this one. Nobody held a gun to anyone's head on this vote. Contrary to what some may think, there were options. If there weren't, there wasn't a need for a vote in the first place. I wonder what last week's vote would have been had the previous council established the pay rate to be minimum wage? Something tells me the vote would have been a little different.